MobileGeddon has happened, so what’s different? Well, nothing. Yet.
Earlier this year, Google announced an update in their mobile algorithm that would be give top priority to websites that they deemed mobile- friendly. This change, popularly coined MobileGeddon, went into effect April 21 and is said to have a significant impact on mobile searches and results.
Some analysts say that it Google’s mobile algorithm change could take away over 1/3 of your mobile traffic if your site isn’t mobile-responsive.
So how does this affect you? Let’s start with the basic questions
1. What is Google’s Mobile Algorithm change?
Google’s algorithm is the super-secret set of elements that decides which site ranks highest in the search results. In this case Google is introducing new elements to their mobile algorithm that may cause your mobile website to rank differently than your desktop version.
They’ll be looking at whether or not your site is easy to use on mobile platforms, taking into account text size, spacing, if your website will resize to fit the device and if you have compatible software (flash should be a thing of the past!).
You may not see the impact immediately, but Google’s mobile algorithm update will eventually influence where your website ranks in mobile search results, if it appears at all. Google says that it will only affect searches done on mobile devices. That being said, be ready for changes in the future for desktop results as well.
2. Why is Google’s Mobile Algorithm changing?
Easy. It’s Google’s world and we’re just living in it BUT there is a real justification for this: making users happy.
Nowadays everything is at our fingertips. If we can’t find what we want on our phone or it’s not easy to use, we tend to give up or find something else. Considering that over 60% of all Google searches are now done on mobile devices, Google’s mobile algorithm change is something that should not be taken lightly.
3. What can I do now that it’s past the April 21st deadline?
The same things you could have been done before Google’s mobile algorithm update went into effect.
If your site is not currently mobile-friendly your search ranking may go down. But all is not lost! As soon as you get your site to a mobile-friendly state and submit it to Google for a retest you should find yourself back in the ranks.
Google’s Gary Ilyes suggests that this will be ‘real-time,’ meaning that as soon as your page becomes mobile-friendly, it will begin to reap the benefits.
4. How do I even know if my page is mobile-friendly?
Google has provided a mobile-friendly tool to check if your website meets their criteria. You’ll get one of two responses: “Awesome! This page is mobile-friendly” or “Not mobile-friendly.”
My #1 piece of advice is to make sure you have a plan
If your site is already mobile-friendly then you’ll breeze through Google’s mobile algorithm changes, and may find your search rankings increasing as others struggling with the changes.
If on the other hand your site test came back “Not mobile-friendly,” you’ve got a bit of work to do. Don’t panic, but if you need help don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Schedule a free consultation and let Social Light help you navigate through MobileGeddon.